Ive been climbing since I was 13 although I have grown up in the shadows of mountains all my life. I love the intricate art of trad climbing, the battle against the elements when on ice and the magic sound of hard packed snow crunching underfoot with the dawn sun lighting up the surrounding peaks. For me nothing beats the simple joy of being in the mountains with good company and fine weather and if reading this brings a smile to your face, then you also know what it means to be alive.